Integrating the United Nations sustainable development goals into higher education globally: a scoping review

ABSTRACT Background In 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Higher education institutions have a role in raising awareness and building skills among future professionals for implementing the SDGs. This review describes how the SDGs have been integrated into higher education globally. Objectives Determine how have the SDGs been integrated into higher education globally. Describe the differences in the integration of the SDGs in higher education across high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods Following a scoping review methodology, we searched Medline, Web of Science, Global Health, and Educational Resources Information Center, as well as websites of key institutions including universities, identifying peer-reviewed articles and grey literature published between September 2015 and December 2021. Results We identified 20 articles and 38 grey literature sources. Since 2018, the number of publications about the topic has been increasing. The SDGs were most frequently included in bachelor-level education and disciplines such as engineering and technology; humanities and social sciences; business, administration, and economics. Methods of integrating the SDGs into higher education included workshops, courses, lectures, and other means. Workshops and courses were the most frequent. The methods of integration varied in high-income countries compared to low- and middle-income countries. High-income countries seemed to follow a more academic approach to the SDGs while low- and middle-income countries integrate the SDGs with the aim to solve real-world problems. Conclusion This study provides examples of progress in integrating the SDGs into higher education. Such progress has been skewed to high-income countries, bachelor-level initiatives, and certain disciplines. To advance the integration of the SDGs, lessons learned from universities globally should be shared broadly, equitable partnerships formed, and students engaged, while simultaneously increasing funding for these processes.


Introduction
In 2015, all the member states of the United Nations (UN) adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (Appendix I) [1]. The SDGs are aimed at ending poverty; developing strategies for improving health, social, and economic inequalities; promoting economic growth; improving education; and enhancing environmental health for all countries [2]. Higher education institutions have a role in implementing the SDGs, even though 'higher education' and 'tertiary education' only appear twice in the UN's Global Indicator Framework for the Sustainable Development Goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development [3,4]. For example, higher education institutions produce knowledge and raise awareness about the SDGs among their students [5,6]. Higher education institutions also provide students with the necessary skills needed to implement the SDGs, such as strategic vision, design-thinking, social responsibility, problem-solving, anticipatory skills, and interdisciplinary collaboration [5,7]. Therefore, the integration of the SDGs in higher education can provide future professionals with the necessary knowledge, tools, and skills to successfully address the complex interrelated challenges of the future including through reciprocal learning between high-and low and middle-income countries as well as interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary learning and problemsolving. For instance, to ensure the environmental sustainability of future constructions, a future civil engineer should learn about the SDGs [5,6,8].
In the context of this study, we have defined 'integration' as mandatory or elective courses, workshops, lectures and other activities which can vary between HICs and LMICs [7]. However, there is currently a knowledge gap on how the SDGs have been integrated into higher education [9]. Filling this gap is key to taking stock and accelerating the integration of the SDGs in higher education thus contributing to SDGs progress [10,11]. As a response to this lack of a synthesised understanding of the integration of the SDGs in higher education, we conducted a scoping review with two main research questions: How have the SDGs been integrated into higher education globally? What are the differences in the integration of the SDGs in higher education across high-income countries (HICs) and low-and middle-income countries (LMICs)?

Methodology
Due to the complex nature of the topic and the wide range of studies and sources that might be relevant to the research questions, a scoping review method was selected. The scoping review followed the methodological framework by Arksey and O'Malley [12]. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist to guide the reporting [13][14][15]. The completed checklist is available in Appendix II.

Data sources and search
We searched MEDLINE, Web of Science, Global Health, and Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) for peer-reviewed articles from January 2015 (the year when the UN adopted the 2030 Agenda) to December 2021.
The search strategy for the included databases, which we developed in collaboration with the Karolinska Institutet Library, is included in Appendix III. The latter was standardised but adapted to fit the other database and grey literature searches. We identified relevant grey literature by reviewing reports by the UN [16], the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) [17], and the International Association of Universities [18]. Moreover, we searched for higher education institutions' websites.
To select higher education institutions, we first identified five top-level institutions per geographical region (Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania) from three university rankings [19][20][21]. We imported the results of the searches into the study selection software Rayyan [22].

Selection, screening, and charting
We selected articles and grey literature according to the following inclusion criteria: focus on the SDGs as the main topic, publication between 2015 and 2021, higher education as the setting, and explicit mention of how the SDGs have been integrated into higher education. We used the following exclusion criteria: focus on the concept of sustainable development more broadly without focus on the SDGs, no specification of the country of implementation, and language other than English or Spanish. We determined 'integration' based on the description of courses, workshops, lectures and other activities, while we did not apply any score or scale to measure the integration of the SDGs.
One author (AAM) initially removed duplicates using the Rayyan software and then screened the articles first by title, second by abstract, and finally by full text. The grey literature sources were also screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. AAM then charted the data based on different variables: country, study programme (e.g. healthcare, education, and engineering), method of integration of SDGs (e.g. workshops, courses, and lectures), partnership development (e.g. governments, other universities, and communities), higher education involvement in policy development, financing of SDGs integration, and future actions. The countries were classified as HICs and LMICs according to the World Bank classification (2021) [23]. OB and DH reviewed the data charting to ensure the relevance and validity of the data extracted. OB, DH, and TA were consulted during all stages of the scoping review.

Patient and public involvement
We have not involved patients or the public in the development of the research question, study design, and conduct.

Educational levels and disciplines
We found examples of the integration of the SDGs at all education levels (bachelor, postgraduate, master, and PhD); however, according to the peer-review articles and the grey literature, the SDGs were most frequently integrated at the bachelor level (28%) [28][29][30][31][32]35,36,38,42,47,55,63,68,70,71,73]. Table 1 shows as an example of the findings from the publications how the SDGs have been integrated across educational levels according to the peer-reviewed articles. The methods of integration that have been identified in the literature can be categorised into workshops, courses, lectures, and other activities (such as degree topics, seminars, and webinars). Table 2 provides an overview of the peer-reviewed articles and grey literature of the disciplines that have integrated the SDGs and their distribution across LMICs and HICs. Disciplines that have integrated the SDGs more frequently include engineering/technology and humanities/social sciences, compared to, for example, healthcare. The integration of the SDGs in all disciplines was more common in institutions in HICs compared to LMICs. In some cases, multiple disciplines at one university integrated the SDGs, e.g. in Zimbabwe, the SDGs were integrated into Soil Science, Agricultural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Environmental Sciences [30].

Methods of integration of the SDGs globally
We identified a variety of methods of integrating the SDGs into higher education globally, i.e. through workshops, courses, lectures, and others, which we outline in the following.
Workshops in HICs often linked the SDGs to the job market [29,33,80], e.g. teaching students in Italy managerial skills to develop business innovations within the SDG framework [37]. Other workshops focused on the increase of environmental sustainability at the university [27,42]. In examples from LMICs, workshops in South Africa revolved around the sustainable development of community-based interventions according to societal needs, sustainably solving environmental challenges for society and facilitating economic growth [3]. In Mexico, workshops focused on sustainable development through the support and empowerment of women [64].
In terms of courses, students in HICs developed projects for the integration of the SDGs on campus and in the community. In Portugal, students were taught about raising awareness of unemployment and other social inequalities [35]. In Florida (United States of America), research projects were oriented to integrate sustainability into university campuses and the community [30]. In contrast, courses in LMICs were focused on entrepreneurship in sustainability, environmental health, and raising awareness in the surrounding community about the SDGs. In Jamaica, students learned to support their community by critically analysing the relationship between individuals, different communities, and the environment; being able to apply a sustainable development focus by the evaluation of the main three pillars of sustainable development: economic, social, and ecological. In this case, the students would develop a commitment with their actions towards the community and be able to create future sustainable and healthy societies [77].
We found limited information regarding the use of lectures on the SDGs in LMICs. At a university in China, students learned about strategic resources for businesses to maintain sustainable innovation capability and to win a competitive advantage [57]. In HICs, e.g. in Denmark, higher education institutions included lectures on the need to improve gender equity and promote the sustainability of food systems [61]. These lectures about topics related to sustainability can be directly related to diverse SDGs, such as SDG 2 'Zero hunger' and SDG 5 'Gender equality'. In Switzerland, we found a lecture series about how universities can contribute towards achieving SDGs in collaboration with other stakeholders [59]. Other types of methods of integrating the SDGs in higher education in HICs included seminars and webinars. Higher education institutions in LMICs reported that higher education institutions utilised core stakeholders, such as libraries or working committees, to integrate the SDGs in higher education institutions [34]. Articles from Spain [24] and South Africa [3] offered examples of funded research for SDG integration, while not specifying the funding source.

Discussion
This scoping review explored examples of how the SDGs have been integrated into higher education globally. Based on 20 peer-reviewed articles and 38 grey literature sources, the SDGs were most frequently included in bachelor-level education, compared to other levels such as doctoral level, and disciplines such as engineering and technology; humanities and social sciences; business, administration, and economics, compared to disciplines such as healthcare or education. Methods of integrating the SDGs into higher education included workshops, courses, and lectures among others. The characteristics of the methods of integration varied in HICs compared to LMICs countries. In general, we found more information from HICs compared to LMICs regarding possible modes of integrating the SDGs. In addition, we found limited information on funding sources for the integration of the SDGs in higher education, as well as for the community-based angle in higher education.

(Continued )
The progress on integrating the SDGs into higher education has been skewed to bachelor-level initiatives and certain disciplines, while progress across university levels and disciplines could potentially accelerate the implementation of the SDGs [81,82]. As Gómez and colleagues wrote: 'The SDGs provide a unique opportunity for universities, allowing them to demonstrate their willingness and ability to play an active and meaningful role in the development of society and their contribution to global sustainable development' [42]. The integration of the SDGs at all university levels could increase the proactivity of companies to increase awareness about the SDGs and adapt their organisation to a more sustainable mindset [83] incorporating strategic changes in the companies' management by pushing their will to change [84].
Future healthcare professionals need knowledge about the SDGs to reorient health towards health promotion and comprehensive primary health care with a focus on health determinants -considering also environmental hazards due to climate change and its health impacts. Factors outside of the health sector such as climate change, inequalities, and other social determinants of health are largely captured in the SDGs. However, we found that only a few healthcare educational programmes had explicitly integrated the SDGs. As such, the integration of SDGs in all educational disciplines would be necessary [85].
Chotchoungchatchai and colleagues highlight that to achieve the health-related SDGs, primary healthcare workers must learn about multisectoral action, such as collaborating with other stakeholders locally and nationally [85,86]. This missed opportunity should thus be bridged for healthcare workers and other disciplines currently being left behind. Methods of integration of the SDGs into higher education included workshops, courses, and lectures, among other means, which could be most impactful on students' learning if used complementarily. According to Safari and colleagues, standard academic courses are the most used teaching method in science disciplines, while their combination with workshops and other activities is seen as more enjoyable [87]. Degree projects and lectures have been described as stimuli for creating new initiatives [37] and could be useful in complementing workshops and courses. Higher education institutions in HICs seemed to follow a more academic approach to the SDGs, for example, in Spain the 'SDGs perspective' is included as a critical reflection in bachelor's theses, describing their contribution to the UN's 2030 Agenda [42]. Meanwhile, LMICs seemed to approach the SDGs with the aim to solve real-world problems, often at the community level. For example, in Zimbabwe, higher education institutions include the SDGs through project development linked with the community to evaluate the impact of the SDGs on local and global contexts [29]. Similarly, but not as frequently found in HICs, Grindsted [88] details how students can contextualise the inclusion of the SDGs in the local context, e.g. through fieldwork and interaction with local stakeholders. Students' engagement with local stakeholders seems crucial to contextualise the SDGs and thus make them tangible. Students' perspectives are also key in monitoring and evaluation processes of integrating the SDGs in higher education [89].
We found more information from HICs compared to LMICs regarding possible methods of integrating the SDGs into higher education. This might be due to a lack of funding, documentation, awareness, or recognition related to the importance of integrating the SDGs in higher education. Higher education institutions could act as a catalyst for change, supporting and encouraging the integration of the SDGs in all settings. Furthermore, to increase the pace of integration of the SDGs in higher education, especially in LMICs, lessons learned on the 'how' of integration should be shared broadly and equitable partnerships built, creating common spaces of communication and new educational processes [27]. The traditionally asymmetrical collaboration structures and power dynamics where HIC institutions and funders direct the focus and activities of institutions in LMICs must be altered, and a reformed equitable collaboration structure between higher institutions in LMICs and HICs becomes the norm [90]. For example, the Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development (CESH) is a collaboration based on decades of mutual dynamic partnerships [91] between Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) and the Makerere University (Uganda) to support the integration of the SDGs into higher education [92]. CESH also provides tools and resources for students, researchers, professionals, and policymakers.
In the future, it would be interesting to explore shifts towards teaching and learning that include multidisciplinary, hands-on, real-life challenges and community engagement approaches. Indeed, multidisciplinary teaching and learning can be useful for developing critical analysis and problem-solving capabilities that are required for complex systems approaches to the SDGs. Teaching methods that provide students with skills that can be transferable to diverse work environments would be of added value, when teaching about the SDGs. Additionally, it is not just about what is taught but the example universities provide to future leaders. As such, it would be useful to identify examples of universities adjusting their environments to align with SDGs, e.g. sustainable environments, green environments, etc. Finally, it would be relevant to explore if there are any national-level policies, guidance, and requirements for educational institutions to integrate the SDGs. This would perhaps drive the change if such policies and requirements existed.

Limitations
This scoping review has some limitations. Only one author (AAM) performed the screening, study selection, data charting, and analysis, which may have biased the results. Also, availability bias, publication bias and reporting bias [93,94] may have skewed the results. However, OB, DH, and TA provided feedback and guidance throughout the review process to minimise these potential biases. As the included publications did not primarily aim at describing the 'how-to' of integrating the SDGs in higher education, the information we extracted is incomplete, e.g. we do not know the length of the described courses, or the university points awarded, and the funding mechanisms. Moreover, due to the limited time since the SDGs were introduced, the relative lack of findings in this study might to some extent be because higher educational institutions have not had the time to integrate the SDGs in their educational plans. Furthermore, we may have missed examples of the integration of the SDGs in higher education, as their integration may not have been explicitly mentioned in relation to SDG integration, e.g. in the context of gender. An additional assessment of curricula, especially in medicine and health where we found limited information, may have provided additional information on the integration of the SDGs and related concepts, which would be interesting for future studies to assess. No critical appraisal of the quality of the included articles was done, as it is not strictly required for scoping reviews [95].

Conclusions
This scoping review provides examples of progress in integrating the SDGs into higher education, primarily through courses, workshops, and lectures on the topic. Such progress has been skewed to high-income countries, bachelor-level initiatives, and certain disciplines. To advance the integration of the SDGs in higher education across educational levels, disciplines and countries, lessons learned from universities globally should be shared broadly, especially with regard to the 'how-to' of integration. Equitable partnerships should be formed and students engaged, while simultaneously increasing funding for these processes.

Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding information
The authors reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Author contributions
OB and TA conceived the study. OB developed the search strategy together with a medical librarian from Karolinska Institutet. AAM screened titles and abstracts, and then full-text articles. AAM extracted, charted, analysed, and interpreted the data. OB and DH verified the data extraction. AAM wrote the first draft of the manuscript. OB, DH, and TA were consulted at various stages of the scoping review to provide input on the search strategy, data extraction, charting, analysis, and interpretation of the results. All authors provided comments on the manuscript, read, and approved its final version.

Paper context
Higher education institutions have a role in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by raising knowledge and awareness among their students. The SDGs can be integrated into higher education in various ways, e.g. through courses, workshops, lectures, and others. Progress on integrating the SDGs across educational levels, disciplines, and countries is needed. To accelerate the integration of the SDGs in higher education, lessons learned on the 'how' of integration should be shared. Yes p. 4-5 Data charting process ‡ 10 Describe the methods of charting data from the included sources of evidence (e.g. calibrated forms or forms that have been tested by the team before their use, and whether data charting was done independently or in duplicate) and any processes for obtaining and confirming data from investigators.

ORCID
Yes p. 4 Data items 11 List and define all variables for which data were sought and any assumptions and simplifications made.
Yes p. 5-6 Critical appraisal of individual sources of evidence § 12 If done, provide a rationale for conducting a critical appraisal of included sources of evidence; describe the methods used and how this information was used in any data synthesis (if appropriate).

No
Synthesis of results 13 Describe the methods of handling and summarising the data that were charted. Yes p. 4-5

Results
Selection of sources of evidence 14 Give numbers of sources of evidence screened, assessed for eligibility, and included in the review, with reasons for exclusions at each stage, ideally using a flow diagram.